Uproar after Hebrew University students hold pro-Palestinian conference

The school defended the event as being protected by “academic freedom of expression.”

By Batya Jerenberg, World Israel News

Jewish groups sharply criticized the Hebrew University of Jerusalem on Tuesday for allowing a student group to hold an anti-Israel conference on campus last week that critics said legitimized terrorism.

The event, organized by a 10-year-old student group called “Here Is All of Palestine,” featured nationalist and anti-Israel chants, the singing of the Palestinian national anthem, and the screening of a film in which activists praised poetry by Palestinians who support armed struggle against Israel.

Poetry was also read that denied the historical connection of Jews to Jerusalem.

The conference included a performance by stand-up comedian Nidal Badrana, who last year repeatedly mocked the 251 hostages abducted during the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, invasion of Israel. His comments sparked public outrage and led to a brief arrest on suspicion of incitement to terrorism and disturbing the peace.

In a letter to the university administration, the Religious Zionist Dror student group demanded an immediate ban on all “Here Is All of Palestine” activities and the permanent expulsion of activists who had “chosen to identify with terrorists and terror supporters.”

“This is not about freedom of expression or legitimate political debate,” the students wrote. “It is about glorifying poets who openly support terrorism and promoting anti-Israel incitement.”

They added that sharing classrooms with such students while they and their peers serve in the IDF reserves and defend the country was “inconceivable and intolerable.”

“The university administration now faces a moral and ethical test,” the letter concluded. “Silence or delay will be interpreted as legitimizing terrorism on campus. We expect you to demonstrate zero tolerance and make it clear that the campus will not be a safe haven for any terrorist supporters.”

Shai Glick, head of the Zionist human rights group Betzalmo, told World Israel News he was shocked that the university had allowed such an event to take place on campus.

“This is a delusional reality in which the Hebrew University has forgotten its second name – ‘Hebrew.’ The university must decide whether it is truly becoming Palestine or returning to being Zionist,” Glick said.

There were also levers that could be used since the university was supported in large part by the state, he noted.

“As long as the incitement cases continue, we will act urgently to deprive them of budgets,” he said. “Public money cannot be used to finance incitement and hatred.”

Responding to a Channel 14 report on the conference, Hebrew University said it does not interfere in the content of student activities, which are “protected by freedom of expression and academic freedom.”

In this particular case, the statement added that it would investigate “whether there was a violation of the regulations prohibiting the use of university facilities for holding political events intended for the general public.”

BetzalmoHebrew UniversityIncitement to terrorPro-Palestinian activists